Gun system



Sept. 24, 1963 c. R. WEINERT DUST GUN SYSTEM Filed Dec. 23. 1.960

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INVENTOR. Carl R. wenert United States Patent O 3,104,784 DUST GUN SYSTEM Carl R. Weinert, Pittshurgh, Pa., assigor to Federal laborator-lies, Ene., Saitshurg, Pa., a Corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 23, 1960, Ser. No. 78,110 3 Clains. (Cl. 222-193) This invention relates to a pressure-operated gun system for dispersing dust. A plurality of the dust guns is arranged to be served by a common source of gas pressure, thus providing a large number of separate, simultaneously Operating outlets rto atmosphere.

Although the principles hereof apply to dusting in general, the present system is primarily adapted to disperse tear gas dust, preferably within a large enclosed space. Htherto, tear gas dispersed in large spaces has been accomplished with tear gas combustion installations wherein gases generated due to combustion escape into the atmosphere carrying the tear gas with them. Such installations using the combustion principle for generating pres sure of dispersal have been expensive and, hence, financially prohibitive for smaller institutions requiring tear gas as part of their anti-riot equipment. Moreover, there are several deficiencies which experience has shown must be guarded against in a combustion gas system. One difiiculty has to do with non-uniform distribution, in that the gas cloud being released in a heated state conipared to the denser atmosphere tends, in some installation arrangernents, to stratify without penetrating to the lower levels of a space being dusted.

The present invention overcomes the foregoing deficiencies, providing an eflicient and economical means of dispersing the dust uniformly and rapidly. 'One or more bottles of commercial compressed gas form the source of gas pressure, and a manifold common thereto and controlled by a pressure regulator Supplies an ex tended length of gas pipe with proper gas flow for feeding the guns at their fixed positions. The gas emitted from the guns is cool and has about the same density as the atmosphere after the jets leaving the guns expand down to atmospherio pressure. Therefore, the tear gas cloud can hang or it can penetrate -upwardly or downwardly or sideways in the atmosphere `with equal facility depending upon how directed.

More particularly, the guns are at points which can be located at about 80-foot intervals, for example, measured linearly along the gas pipe line. Each gun connection point to the line includes a regulator valve to limit against exceeding the rupture pressure of the gun and also a popo flow valve which will not open to conduct gas flow without there being available suflicient Operating pressure to insure that, when the guns operate, they operate to vigorously discharge the gas dust. Under very low pressure and veloc-ity, the flowing gas Will fail to agitate and pick up any material quantity of dust in the guns.

Further features, objects and advantages will either become apparent or be specifically pointed out when, for a better Understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following written description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan View of a plural gun 'dust system making a permanent installation according to the present invention and employing a common gas source;

FIGURE 2 is -a side elevational View of the gas source of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of one-of the valve-controlled guns of FIGURE 1.

More particularly in the drawing, a gas pipe line 10 is arranged in a room 12 so as to traverse the full length of the ceiling of that room. The room 12 is of substantial proportions ordinarily, being, for example, the mess hall of a penal institution; the gas line 10 of the system is many feet above the floor, preferably being Suspended in a permanent installation by hangers 14 a short distance from the ceiling 16 (FIGURE 3).

One or more metal bottles or flasks 18 containing compressed gas are controlled by valves 2& individual thereto so as to feed a common inlet manifold 22 for the gas pipe line 10. The inlet manifold 22 communicates through a bronze body, high pressure regulator valve 24 and an el bow 2-6 to the line 10. The valve element within the body of the valve 24 is connected to a control diaphragm (not shown) opposed by a leverage weight 28 in convent-ional way. Control pressure for the diaphragm is admitted through a hand valve 3@ connected at a point directly Upstream in the manifold 22. Upstream pressure acts on the diaphragm to move the valve toward wide open position, whereas downstream pressure in conjunction with pre-load on the daphragm acts to counter the Upstream force with the regulatory function desired.

A plurality of dust guns individually communicates with the line 10 at spaced apart connection points from one another which may be a distance L apart measured linearly along the line 103 Each gun 32 (FIGURE 3) consists of a pressure Vessel filled, a little better than half full with a body of dry dust 34. In the case of tear gas dust, for example, the active Chemical in the dust would be omegaohlcroacetophenone. The chamber 36 of the gun holding the dust contains a down-draft inlet pipe 38 which introduces gas causing the dust to be agitated and carried out of the gun 32. In the bolted-on cover of the gun 32, the gun is provided with a plurality of nozzle bores 4@ which communicate at their inner end with the chamber 36 so as to conduct gas thcrefrom in a plurality of individual radially directed jets carrying the entrained particles of dust. i

The means of connection leading from the line lil* to each gun 32 consists of a small regulator valve 42 and -a standard pop-off valve 44 serially connected in that order. The regulator valve 42 has one or more valve elements therein operated by at least one control diaphragm and an opposing spring to set the element in a' proper regulatory position admitting the gas. The pop-off valve 44 is preset with a spring load and is retained normally closed by the spring (not shown) until the outlet pressure from the small regulator valve 42 is at or above a proper Operating pressure for dispersing dust from the gun 32.

The example of Operating pressures which follows in the application is intended to illustrate -the invention for a better Understanding. lt is by no means exhaustive' of the pressures usable, being disclosed with a desired purpose of a fuller description of one satisfactory working embodiment and not of limitation, v

With one-inch black iron pipe constituting the gas line w, the pop-of valves 44 were set to open at or above pounds per square inch gauge; the maximum regulated Operating pressure to which the guns 32 were subjected was p.s.i. gauge;- and the small regulators 42 had a design inlet pressure of `30 01 p.s.i. gauge.

The small regulator valves 42 reduce the pressure from 300 p.s.i. to 125 p.s.i. as maximum and regulate it to inu?? sure against exce-eding this satisfactory low pressure at which the operation of the guns 32 can be accomplished; excessive pressure would be superfluous beyond that point. Moreover, if the gun nozzle bores become plugged either maliciously from the outside or internally from caked dust, the maximum pressure allowed by the valves 42 'will be 125 psi. within the chambers 35 so as to be safely within the rupture pressure limit designed for each pressure 'vesseL The pop-off valves 44 are connected to open and .to deliver a flow of gas to the individual guns 32 ater above 75 p.s.i. The action of these valves 4-4 is insurance, as against the first dust gun 3-2. :or the adj acent dust guns which are connected at points in the line near the bottles 18, that -they will not be an avenue blceding off the gas pressure before the pressure has a chance to build up to 75 psi. throughout the 'length of the line 10. Moreover, the regul-ator 42 on the guns 32 nearest the bottles 18 prevents an exccssive amount of gas pressure from collecting therein and escaping at this Upstream point, thus avoiding starving the guns at the downstream end of the line 10.

Following is an example of the make and specifications of the principal Components of equipment shown in the drawing:

Gas bottles 18 contain compressed nitrogen gas or compressed air. Bottle size and pressure Standard size at 2,000 p.s.i.

*gauge M anfold 22 Extra heavy pipe. Gas pipe line 10 l-inch 'black iron pipe. Distanoe L 75 feet.

Room 12 dimensions X=150 feet, Y=60 feet. High pressure regul ator 24 Chapman Fulton type 102.

Small regulators 42 Chapman Pul-ton model Little Hercules, 2 /2" diaphra-gm. Pop-off valve 44 Crane No. 265.

The inlet manifold 22 is .appropriately capped at one end 46 of the system and the line 10 is capped at the opposite end 4-8 of the system. In operation, the valve 30 is opened, if not previously open and .the valves 2@ are simultaneously opened whereupon the operation :of the' system is essentially automatic. There were twelve guns 32. in one physically constructed embodiment of the system and the interaction of the regulator and pop-oti` valves kept the guns -very much equalized insofar as dust dispersal eifectiveness was concerned. Starting with a full gas bottle pressure of 2,000 pusi., all dust was discharged in fewer than 10 seconds running time, whereupon the valves 20 were closed.

After the bottles 18 were replaced and the guns 32 recharged with dust, the system was again in readiness, enabling the operation to be repeated.

Variations within the spirit and scope of the invention described are equally comprehended by the foregoing description.

I claim:

1. A pre-charged operable ;system for dspersing dust comprising bottle means charged with gas 'under pressure, a gas line having a compressed .gas inlet communicating with said bottle means, a first valve means positioned in said inlet regulating the admission of gas introduced by said bottle means into said gas line so that the pressure in the line does not exceed a first predetermined value, a plunality oi dust guns individually communicating with said line at substantially spaced ap art connection points from one another, said dust guns being disposed to discharge particles of dust into the atmosphere when supplied with gaseous pressure that is no greater than a 4 second .predetermined pressure value but is at least as great as a third predetermined value, and plural valve t means in series with one another positioned between said gas line and said dust guns in each of said connection points regulating the admission of gas into the individual guns so that the gas is distributed uniformly and the pressure range of operation of the guns stays within said piedetermined limits, said plural valve means comprising a seci ond valve means disposed to reduce the gaseous pressure flowing from said gas line to said guns to said second predetermined pressure value whenever said gaseous p-ress ure exceeds said second predetermined value, and closed popofi valve means disposed to prevent the flow of gaseous pressure from said gas line to said guns unless said gaseous pressure is at least as great as said third predetermined value, said third predetermined value being a lo wer gaseous pressure than said second predetermined value and said second predetermined value being a lower gaseous p-ressure than said first predetermined value so as to sat-` isfy proper Operating conditions of pressure within all guns. i

2. A pre-charged operable system for dispersing dust comprising bottle means charged with gas under pressure, a gas line aIr-anged to be Suspended above a floor by means of short hangers from a. ceiling, said gas line having a eompressed gas inlet communicating with said bottle means, a first valve means positioned in said inlet regulating the admission of gas introduced by said bottle means into said gas line so that the pressure in the line.

does not exceed a first predetermined value, a plurality of dust guns individually communicating with said line 'at spaced apart connection points -from one another, said dust guns being disposed to discharge particles of dust into the atmosphere when supplied with gaseous pressure from said gas line that is no greater than a second predetermined pressure value but is at least as great as a third predetermined value, and plural valve means in series with one another positioned between said gas line and mined pressure value whenever said gaseous pressure exceeds said second predetermined value, and closed pop-oti valve means disposed to prevent the flow of gaseous pressure from said gas line to said guns unless said gaseous pressure is at least as great as said third predetermined value, said third predetermined value being a lower gaseous pressure than said second predetermined value and; said second predetermined value being a lower gaseous pressure than said first predetermined value soas to satp isfy proper, Operating 'conditions of pressure within a guns. r

3. A system for dispersing dust comprising a source of compressed gas, a gas line communicating with said source, a plurality ot dust guns individually communicating with said line at substantially spaced apar-t connection points from one another, said dust guns being disposed to discharge particles ofldust into the atmosphere when supt plied with gaseous pressure from said gas line that is no greater than a first predetermined pressure value but is at least as great as a second predetermined value, and plural i valve means in series with one another positioned between said gas line and said :dust guns in each of said connection points regulating the admission of gas into the individual i guns so that the gas is distributed uniformly and the pressure range of operationof the guns stays within said predetermined limits, said lural valve means comprisng first valve means disposed to reduce the gaseous pressure flowing from said gas line to said guns to said first predetermined pressure whenever said gaseous pressure exceeds said first predetermned value, and closed pop-off valve means disposed to prevent the flow of gaseous pressnre from said gas line to said .guns unless said gaseous pressure is at least as great as said second predetermned value, said second predetermined value being a lower gaseous pressure than said first predetermined value so .as to satisfy proper Operating conditions of pressure within all guns.

References Citerl in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS I Buttner Oct. 17, 1939 Copping et al. Apr. 27, 1948 Gustafsson et al Mar. 21, 1950 -Freygang Feb. 26, 1952 Mojonnier Mar. 19, 1957 

1. A PRE-CHARGED OPERABLE SYSTEM FOR DISPERSING DUST COMPRISING BOTTLE MEANS CHARGED WITH GAS UNDER PRESSURE, A GAS LINE HAVING A COMPRESSED GAS INLET COMMUNICATING WITH SAID BOTTLE MEANS, A FIRST VALVE MEANS POSITIONED IN SAID INLET REGULATING THE ADMISSION OF GAS INTRODUCED BY SAID BOTTLE MEANS INTO SAID GAS LINE SO THAT THE PRESSURE IN THE LINE DOES NOT EXCEED A FIRST PREDETERMINED VALUE, A PLURALITY OF DUST GUN INDIVIDUALLY COMMUNICATING WITH SAID LINE AT SUBSTANTIALLY SPACED APART CONNECTION POINTS FROM ONE ANOTHER, SAID DUST GUNS BEING DISPOSED TO DISCHARGE PARTICLES OF DUST INTO THE ATMOSPHERE WHEN SUPPLIED WITH GASEOUS PRESSURE THAT IS NO GREATER THAN A SECOND PREDETERMINED PRESSURE VALUE BUT IS AT LEAST AS GREAT AS A THIRD PREDETERMINED VALUE, AND PLURAL VALVE MEANS IN SERIES WITH ONE ANOTHER POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID GAS LINE AND SAID DUST GUNS IN EACH OF SAID CONNECTION POINTS REGULATING THE ADMISSION OF GAS INTO THE INDIVIDUAL GUNS SO THAT THE GAS IS DISTRIBUTED UNIFORMLY AND THE PRESSURE RANGE OF OPERATION OF THE GUNS STAYS WITHIN SAID PREDETERMINED LIMITS, SAID PLURAL VALVE MEANS COMPRISING A SECOND VALVE MEANS DISPOSED TO REDUCE THE GASEOUS PRESSURE FLOWING FROM SAID GAS LINE TO SAID GUNS TO SAID SECOND PREDETERMINED PRESSURE VALUE WHENEVER SAID GASEOUS PRESSURE EXCEEDS SAID SECOND PREDETERMINED VALUE, AND CLOSED POPOFF VALVE MEANS DISPOSED TO PREVENT THE FLOW OF GASEOUS PRESSURE FROM SAID GAS LINE TO SAID GUNS UNLESS SAID GASEOUS PRESSURE IS AT LEAST AS GREAT AS SAID THIRD PREDETERMINED VALUE, SAID THIRD PREDETERMINED VALUE BEING A LOWER GASEOUS PRESSURE THAN SAID SECOND PREDETERMINED VALUE AND SAID SECOND PREDETERMINED VALUE BEING A LOWER GASEOUS PRESSURE THAN SAID FIRST PREDETERMINED VALUE SO AS TO SATISFY PROPER OPERATING CONDITIONS OF PRESSURE WITHIN ALL GUNS. 